Ann Curry On Being Bullied Out By 'Today' Show Boys Club: 'It Feels Like I Died And Saw My Own Wake'

But apparently, Curry was disliked by some in the "Today" show
family — even Katie
Couric, at times — long before the
Matt Lauer drama.

Before she even arrived at Studio 1A,
Curry’s ambition was legendary. In 1993, while anchoring an
early-morning show called “NBC News at Sunrise,” Curry made a
play for the weekend “Nightly News” slot. When it went to Brian
Williams instead, she called the president of NBC News, Andrew
Lack, at his home to express her frustration. When she
eventually replaced Lauer as the “Today” news reader four years
later, Curry jockeyed to fill in for Katie Couric every time
Couric was away. According to several well-placed producers,
Couric didn’t appreciate Curry’s eagerness. Producers said
Couric thought Curry was melodramatic and, in a word that one
used, “fake.”

When Couric left the network in 2006, Executive Producer
Jeff Zucker decided to quietly pursue Meredith
Vieira as co-host — despite it being Curry's "turn"
as co-host.

"When Vieira agreed to take the job, in April 2006,
Zucker called Curry to his office for what he said was a 'very
uncomfortable conversation,'” writes Stelter. "As soon as Curry
saw the direction of the talk, her tears started welling up.
Curry told Zucker that she believed she had earned the chance
to co-host. She said that she might leave the network."

But with the promise of one day getting the gig, Curry
stayed with the intention of succeeding Vieira — which she
did, for a short period of time before saying a tearful on-air goodbye amidst
drama behind-the-scenes at the "Today" show.

And while the "Today"
ratings have suffered ever since Curry's
departure, it hasn't been easy on the 56-year-old journalist,
either.

"On particularly bad days
'Good Morning America' beat 'Today' by a million viewers. Some
of this was attributed to Curry’s fans exacting revenge,"
Writes Stelter. "She was overwhelmed by condolences. 'It feels
like I died,' she told colleagues afterward, 'and I’ve seen my
own wake.'"

Read the full excerpt
from Stelter's upcoming book on the morning show wars here >